Year 1: Foundations and Policy Reform

1. Secure Funding

• Fully fund state-level housing trust funds and protect them from being diverted for other uses.

• Expand use of HUD programs such as HOME, CDBG, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC).

• Dedicate a share of local taxes (sales tax, property tax surcharges, or tourism taxes in major cities) to affordable housing.

1. Zoning & Land Use Changes

• Reform zoning laws to allow multi-family housing and high-density units in more districts.

• Establish fast-track permitting for affordable housing projects.

• Require inclusionary zoning policies, where developers must reserve a percentage of units for low- and middle-income residents.

Year 2: Partnerships and Pilot Projects

1. Employer Partnerships

• Major employers (hospitals, universities, corporations) partner with city governments to fund workforce housing near job hubs.

• Launch Community Land Trusts (CLTs) in urban neighborhoods to keep housing affordable long-term.

1. Building Conversions

• Identify underused hotels, motels, and office buildings in city centers.

• Convert these into micro-apartments, studios, and 1-bedroom units for workers, veterans, and seniors.

• Use HUD Section 108 Loan Guarantees, federal infrastructure funds, and state grants to finance conversions.

Year 3: Scaling Up Affordable Development

1. Large-Scale Development

• Use LIHTC incentives to build thousands of new affordable units across metro areas.

• Require mixed-use and transit-oriented developments to dedicate at least 15% of units to affordable housing.

1. Repurposing Vacant Spaces

• Transform empty malls, warehouses, and big-box retail stores into affordable apartments.

• Encourage Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) by offering tax credits to homeowners who build secondary housing on their property.

Year 4: Preservation & Stability

1. Preserve Existing Housing

• Create rehabilitation funds for landlords who agree to cap rents in exchange for repair subsidies.

• Strengthen tenant protections against sudden rent increases and unfair evictions.

1. Community-Based Housing Models

• Support Habitat for Humanity-style builds in city neighborhoods.

• Expand housing cooperatives in urban centers, giving residents shared ownership and decision-making power.

Year 5: Long-Term Sustainability

1. Innovation

• Invest in prefabricated and modular housing factories within metropolitan regions to reduce construction costs.

• Pilot green and energy-efficient housing projects (solar, energy-sharing grids, and water-saving designs) to cut utility costs for low-income tenants.

1. Regional or Multi-City Housing Authorities

• Establish regional housing authorities in major metro areas to coordinate funding, zoning, and accountability across city and county lines.

Expected Results by Year 5

• Tens of thousands of new affordable housing units through new builds and adaptive reuse of existing spaces.

• Stabilized rents and reduced displacement for working families, seniors, and veterans.

• Strong partnerships with employers and nonprofits to keep housing near job centers.

• A sustainable, long-term housing pipeline supported by federal, state, and local resources.

How it would look in Central Florida:

Central Florida Affordable Housing Roadmap

(Orange, Osceola, Lake, Polk & Sumter Counties)

Year 1: Foundations and Policy Reform

1. Secure Funding

• Fully fund the Sadowski Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

• Apply for HUD programs such as HOME, CDBG, and LIHTC credits.

• Dedicate a portion of the tourism development tax (generated by Orlando-area tourism, including Kissimmee and Osceola resorts) toward affordable housing.

1. Zoning & Land Use Changes

• Update county zoning laws across Orange, Osceola, Lake, Polk, and Sumter to allow more multi-family housing.

• Create fast-track permitting for affordable housing projects.

• Implement inclusionary zoning requiring developers to reserve a percentage of units for affordable housing.

Year 2: Partnerships and Pilot Projects

1. Employer Partnerships

• Disney, Universal, AdventHealth, and other major employers co-fund workforce housing near job hubs in Orange, Osceola, and Polk Counties.

• Establish Community Land Trusts (CLTs) across all five counties to ensure long-term affordability.

1. Hotel & Timeshare Conversions

• Identify underperforming hotels and motels along International Drive, Kissimmee (Osceola), Clermont, and Lakeland.

• Convert them into studio and 1-bedroom units for workers, veterans, and seniors.

• Use HUD Section 108 Loan Guarantees and state grants to finance conversions.

Year 3: Scaling Up Affordable Development

1. Large-Scale Development

• Use LIHTC incentives to create 1,000+ affordable units spread across Orange, Osceola, Lake, Polk, and Sumter Counties.

• Require mixed-use and transit-oriented developments to dedicate at least 15% of units to affordable housing.

1. Reuse of Vacant Spaces

• Repurpose vacant malls, aging office buildings, and big-box retail stores in Orlando, Kissimmee, Clermont, and Lakeland into affordable housing.

• Encourage Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) with tax credits for homeowners across all five counties.

Year 4: Preservation & Stability

1. Preserve Existing Housing

• Create a rehabilitation fund for landlords in all counties who agree to cap rents and keep units affordable.

• Strengthen tenant protections against extreme rent hikes and unfair evictions.

1. Community-Based Housing Models

• Expand Habitat for Humanity builds in rural areas of Lake, Polk, Osceola, and Sumter Counties.

• Support housing cooperatives in Orange and Osceola urban centers.

Year 5: Long-Term Sustainability

1. Innovation

• Invest in prefabricated and modular housing factories within Central Florida to reduce building costs.

• Pilot green energy housing projects (solar panels, PaveGen walkways in high-traffic areas like Disney Springs, downtown Orlando, and Kissimmee) to lower living costs for residents.

1. Regional Affordable Housing Authority

• Establish a multi-county housing authority for Orange, Osceola, Lake, Polk, and Sumter Counties to oversee funding, zoning, and accountability.

Expected Results by Year 5

• Thousands of new affordable units created through both new builds and conversions.

• Stabilized rents for working families, seniors, and veterans.

• Stronger employer investment in housing near major job centers like Orlando and Kissimmee.

• A sustainable pipeline of affordable housing supported by federal programs, state trust funds, and tourism revenue.